Portuguese Piri Piri Chicken | Classic Piri Piri Chicken Recipe
Author: 
Recipe type: Main
Cuisine: Portuguese
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 4 Servings
 
Ingredients
  • Chicken thigh – 4, skin-on & bone-in
  • Chicken drumsticks – 4, skin-on & bone-in
  • Extra-virgin olive oil – 2 tbsp
  • Smoked paprika – 1 tsp
  • Garlic powder – 1 tsp
  • Dry thyme – 1 tsp (or 1 tsp fresh thyme)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
For the piri piri sauce
  • Red onion – 2, medium, peeled & cut into half
  • Tomatoes – 3, medium, cut into halves
  • Garlic – 6 to 8 cloves
  • Fresh red chillies – 4
  • Red wine vinegar – 1 tbsp
  • Extra-virgin olive oil – 3 tbsp
  • Dry thyme – 1 tsp
  • Smoked Paprika – 1 tsp
Instructions
  1. In a small bowl, mix 1 tablespoon of olive oil, paprika, dry thyme, garlic powder, salt & pepper to make a uniform mixture. Rub this mixture on the chicken pieces to coat evenly.
  2. Heat a heavy-bottomed frying pan over medium flame. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the pan.
  3. Once the oil is hot, reduce the heat to lowest and place the chicken pieces on the frying pan keeping skin side down. Cook the chicken for 20 to 25 minutes on lowest heat without disturbing them. This will ensure skin turns super crispy while keeping the meat succulent.
  4. While the chicken is getting cooked, make the piri piri sauce. Place a grill pan over high heat and brush the grates with olive oil.
  5. Once the pan is smoking hot, place the onion & tomatoes on hot grill with cut side down. Also tip in the fresh red chillies and garlic cloves. Let the veggies grill for 15 minutes on medium high heat until they develop grill marks at the bottom and turn smoky.
  6. Drizzle some olive oil on top and flip them over and grill the other side too until charred. Garlic will cook fast; so take them out once they turn golden brown, else they will burn and turn bitter.
  7. Once the veggies are softened and caramelized, transfer them to a food processor/blender along with the red wine vinegar, olive oil, dry thyme & paprika and process them until a very smooth mixture is formed.
  8. If you are using food processor, it will take some time to achieve a smooth mixture; hence take your time to process the veggies. Season it with salt and pepper. Your piri piri sauce is ready.
  9. Let’s get back to the chicken. After cooking them for 20-25 minutes, flip them over and pour the prepared sauce on top of the chicken.
  10. Continue cooking the chicken with piri piri sauce on medium-low heat for 20 to 30 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed, sauce is thickened and clings to the chicken pieces. Your chicken should also be completely cooked by now. This is a semi-dry dish with the awesome piri piri sauce clinging to the chicken thigh & drumsticks.
  11. Take them out and serve with quick salad of cucumber, onion and lettuce. Enjoy!
Recipe by Flavor Quotient at https://www.flavorquotient.com/2020/06/portuguese-piri-piri-chicken-recipe/